Ohad Maiman on What Maine Lost in Aquaculture (and What It Could Still Become)

Ohad Maiman is one of the most visionary figures in modern aquaculture. After successfully launching The Kingfish Company in the Netherlands (one of the world’s most sustainable land-based aquaculture operations) he set his sights on the U.S. market. His goal: bring clean, tech-enabled fish farming to rural Maine. His promise: a $200M investment, 80+ jobs, local hiring, low emissions, and zero impact on wild fisheries.

He had the permits. He had the support of the community in Jonesport. He had capital ready to deploy.

And then, the appeals began.

In this episode, Ohad joins Jonathan Bush to tell the full story: how a green project with local backing and global relevance was delayed, discredited, and ultimately derailed not by policy, but by process.

You’ll learn:

• Why land-based aquaculture could transform Maine’s rural economy
• How permitting appeals can be weaponized—even after a project is approved
• Who really stood to lose from Kingfish USA—and who worked to block it
• What other states and countries are doing right that Maine is getting wrong
• What policy reforms could help Maine compete in the future

It’s a cautionary tale (and a roadmap for future Maine entrepreneurs).

Ohad has since launched new ventures, as the Founder and Managing Partner at AquaFounders Capital, aimed at solving the aquaculture bottleneck globally. But his story in Maine still holds powerful lessons for what’s possible (and what’s holding us back).

Because if we want Maine to lead, we need to make “yes” mean something again.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.